The government has recently introduced mandatory quality norms for smart meters and welding rods to address the issue of sub-standard goods imports and promote domestic manufacturing of these products. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a notification on July 14, stating that smart meters and welding rods can only be produced, sold, traded, imported, and stocked if they bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark.
The BIS Act, 2016, prohibits the manufacturing, storage, and sale of non-BIS certified products. Violating this provision can lead to imprisonment of up to two years or a minimum fine of Rs 2 lakh for the first offence. For subsequent offences, the fine can increase to a minimum of Rs 5 lakh and up to 10 times the value of the goods.
The new quality control regime, known as QCO (Quality Control Order), will come into effect six months from the date of notification. The DPIIT is focusing on implementing this quality control regime for key products like insulated flasks, potable water bottles, flame-lighters, smart meters, and welding rods.
QCO is a mandatory certification scheme that requires compliance with specified Indian standards for the concerned product. The government introduces QCOs for various reasons, including public interest, protection of human, animal, or plant health, environmental safety, prevention of unfair trade practices, and national security.
The DPIIT has been in continuous consultation with the BIS and stakeholders to identify key products that require QCO implementation. As a result, 64 new QCOs are being developed, covering 317 product standards.
Smart meters are electronic devices that record information such as electricity consumption, voltage levels, current, and power factor. They communicate this information to consumers for better understanding of their consumption behavior and to electricity suppliers for system monitoring and customer billing.
To protect domestic small and micro industries and ensure smooth implementation, certain relaxations have been granted in terms of timelines.
Overall, the government’s move aims to enhance product quality, boost domestic manufacturing, and ensure that consumers have access to reliable and safe products in the market.